"And I think my misses have some news for
you," says he, dismissing me.
I came away, vastly pleased to have my peace made, yet a little
concerned in conscience; nor could I help wondering, as I went
back, whether, perhaps, I had not been a scruple too good-natured.
But there was the fact, that this was a man that might have been my
father, an able man, a great dignitary, and one that, in the hour
of my need, had reached a hand to my assistance. I was in the
better humour to enjoy the remainder of that evening, which I
passed with the advocates, in excellent company no doubt, but
perhaps with rather more than a sufficiency of punch: for though I
went early to bed I have no clear mind of how I got there.
CHAPTER XVIII--THE TEE'D BALL
On the morrow, from the justices' private room, where none could
see me, I heard the verdict given in and judgment rendered upon
James. The Duke's words I am quite sure I have correctly; and
since that famous passage has been made a subject of dispute, I may
as well commemorate my version. Having referred to the year '45,
the chief of the Campbells, sitting as Justice-General upon the
bench, thus addressed the unfortunate Stewart before him: "If you
had been successful in that rebellion, you might have been giving
the law where you have now received the judgment of it; we, who are
this day your judges, might have been tried before one of your mock
courts of judicature; and then you might have been satiated with
the blood of any name or clan to which you had an aversion.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263